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When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You
made him a little lower than the heavenly beings,
and crowned
him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
You put everything under his feet:
Psalms. 8:3-6
It is hard to believe but the last dog days of August are upon us, Fall will soon be here - I can feel it creeping closer every morning. There is a chill to the morning air that only Fall can bring ...
This does not make me sad - I love Fall the best. It is my favorite time of year and I am anxious for it's return. Slow down, I tell myself, Do not rush the final days of summer. Be patient and enjoy what is left of your time in the summer garden ...
Time is patient - but I am not!
Yes, summer is still here and shows it's true colors by mid-morning most days. Summer drains me: I love the sun but hate the heat and so even though it feels like it has flown by - it has done so at a snail's pace (especially on the near 100 degree days).
I celebrate the flowers that my garden still sees fit to bring me every day. They raise their blooms toward the sky seeking the sun during the coolness of the morning never knowing that the heat of the summer lies in wait - soon to make it's midday assault upon them ...
I water often, sometimes twice in a single day, to offer them some sort of defense. But still, the heat patiently waits to have it's way with them ...
Summer is patient, but I am not.
My garden and all those who inhabit it, have, so far, remained steadfast in their quest to bedazzled my meager plot - and while I know they do so in spite of me rather than on my behalf - I applaud them nonetheless.
Each plants, each bud - waits patiently for it's moment to shine all the while unaware that time may not be on their side. I admire their bravery - never once are they afraid to rise up out of the safety of the earth and face all the cruelty that Mother Nature and this gardener heaps upon them. Never once do they complain, never once do they shy away from the task at hand ...
They are patient, but I am not!
Not all the wonderful in my garden comes from the plants & flowers - there is a understated beauty in these aging Watering Cans of mine. They know all the secrets of my garden - I love my old weather beaten Water Cans - they are so low tech!
And, while my garden hose and drippers can certainly quench the thirst of my flowers faster & easier than these old Watering cans can - they lack the charm, the closeness and the one-on-one that these old Watering Cans afford this gardener.
So, they sit patiently everyday waiting every day for their turn to water my lovely's.
They never complain, they are never jealous of the hoses or drippers, they just wait, patiently - knowing their turn will come, knowing one morning I will take the time to fill them ...
They are patient, but I am not.
So I'll admit, most mornings my dripper system force feeds water to all my baskets, pots and land-bound flowers and those beyond the dripper's reach usually get a impersonal squirt from the hose but every once in a golden while - I take a deep breath, relax, slow-down & grab the 'old gray Water Can' and get up close & personal with my blooms ...
This summer I have fallen in love with the color combination of yellow, orange and pink - I think these colors - when planted in the same pot - just seem to play well together, they are bouncy, energetic and joyful - almost CHILDLIKE ...
When a gauzy, purple butterfly,
Softly tilts a golden flower,
It's cool wings ease the summer flame
As laughter soothes a troubled hour.
- C. E. Cottam -
I always hold my garden in high esteem but it is never my work in the garden that I admire - it is always the 'gardens work' I praise and this summer I am especially proud of the considerable effort & care put out by the 'coleus' that grows in a pot near my fountain.
This year, unlike years past, they seem to have lost their shyness. They have flourished in their new found comfort and seem to have settled into my gardens way of thinking nicely - this year they have an opinion - are not afraid to show it ...
This morning when I got up my teeny tiny little garden was FULL of birds ... they were everywhere - in the trees, bathing in the fountain, sipping on nectar from both the feeder and the flowers! And they were chirping up a storm. Busy, busy! Much to do, I think, much to be done!
As I looked out of my scraproom window and watched them, I got caught up in all their rambunctious excitement and flurry!
I grabbed my coffee & camera and headed down to my morning coffee spot outside in the garden. I had hopes of sneaking a few pictures of their morning activity and antics.
From upstairs I had seen a nuthatch playing in the fountain - they are my favorite bird. I rarely see them in my garden and I wanted to get a picture of him.
But, as soon as I got settled I noticed how quiet it had become in garden. They always become quiet and fearful when I come down - so I sit down quietly and wait ... patiently.
I know If I sit very still and wait - I will become invisible, and they will come back or so I think. And so I wait ... and wait and wait but still they stay away. They hide. I know they can see me ... waiting but I cannot see them.
They are patient, but I am not!
So, I return to my perch upstairs, my scraproom, my nest and before I even take up residence in the window once again I hear them. They are back. They have waited me out and as I look down on the garden I see them ... busy flitting & flying about as though I had never even entered their world or disturbed their day.
They both fascinate & infuriate me ...
I should learn to be more like this wayward little owl who just sits perched on the pillar ... quiet as the mouse I am sure he is dreaming of ...
He just sits, silently - watching the garden grow, watching the birds making fun of him as they zoom by. They can fly - he can only sit upon the fence.
He is patient, but I am not!
I have only 2 roses bushes in my garden and despite my thoughtless care - they never disappoint ...
"God gave us memories that we may have roses in December."
- J. M. Barrie -
Have a Great Day & Find your Patience
- N -
L.A.'s South Central Community Garden
The Garden, a documentary by Scott Hamilton Kennedy.
L.A.'s South Central Community Garden
If you like documentaries then this is a movie that you will want to see!
Community Protester
A brief synopsis from their websites describes it as:
The fourteen-acre community garden at 41st and Alameda in South Central Los Angeles is the largest of its kind in the United States. Started as a form of healing after the devastating L.A. riots in 1992, the South Central Farmers have since created a miracle in one of the country’s most blighted neighborhoods. Growing their own food, feeding their families and creating a community.
But now, bulldozers are poised to level their 14-acre oasis.
The Garden follows the plight of the farmers, from the tilled soil of this urban farm to the polished marble of City Hall. Mostly immigrants from Latin America, from countries where they feared for their lives if they were to speak out, we watch them organize, fight back, and demand answers: Why was the land sold to a wealthy developer for millions less than fair-market value? Why was the transaction done in a closed-door session of the LA City Council? Why has it never been made public? And the powers-that-be have the same response: “The garden is wonderful, but there is nothing more we can do.” If everyone told you nothing more could be done, would you give up?
I guarantee this award winning movie will entertain, engage & enrage you but, in the end, it will make you cry! This is hands down one of the best movies I have seen so far this year ...
- Albert Einstein -
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The Discovery Chanel:
The Colony
"What would you do in the wake of a global catastrophe? How would you find food? Water? Shelter? The Colony is a controlled experiment to see exactly what it would take to survive and rebuild under these circumstances. For 10 weeks, a group of 10 volunteers, whose backgrounds and expertise represent a cross-section of modern society, are isolated in an urban environment outside Los Angeles and tasked with creating a livable society. With no electricity from the grid, no running water and no communication with the outside world, all the volunteers have to work with are their skills and whatever tools and supplies they can scavenge from their surroundings."
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/colony/about/colony.html
Regardless, it is an entertaining show and worth checking out.
Being Human
The premise [of] Being Human appears to be a comedy that’s a cross between The Munsters and Friends, as a group of supernatural beings try to live a normal existence in Bristol and hilarity ensues. If you went into it with the preconception of watching a laugh-a-minute romp then you were most likely disappointed at what you saw.
No, to describe Being Human properly is to say that it’s a dark drama that’s quite bloody in places and has touches of horror throughout with the occasional joke thrown in for good measure
Read more: http://british-tv.suite101.com/article.cfm/tv_review_being_human_bbc_three#ixzz0OPiIKiYB
The History Channel
Life After People
LIFE AFTER PEOPLE: The Series begins in the moments after people
disappear. As each day, month, and year passes, the fate of a
particular environment, city or theme is disclosed. Special effects,
combined with interviews from top experts in the fields of engineering,
botany, biology, geology, and archeology provide an unforgettable
visual journey through the ultimately hypothetical.
As modern metropolises like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and
Washington DC are ravaged by nature; the series exposes the surprising
insights about how they function today. Basing this futuristic world on
the surprising history of real locations, already abandoned by man,
like a century-old shack in the arctic and an abandoned island that was
once the most densely populated place on earth are featured in the
series.
In every episode, viewers will witness the epic destruction of iconic
structures and buildings, from the Sears Tower, Astrodome, and Chrysler
Building to the Sistine Chapel - - allowing viewers to learn how they
were built and why they were so significant. Big Ben will stop ticking
within days; the International Space Station will plummet to earth
within a few short years, while historic objects, like the Declaration
of Independence and the mummified remains of King Tutankhamen will
remain for decades.
But with most of my favorites just making their way back on I will no doubt - have my TIVO overloaded soon enough ...
Returning in the next month:
Stay Tuned & Have a Great Day....
- N -
May God give you of the dew of heaven,
And of the fatness of the earth,
And an abundance of grain and new wine."
~Genesis
27:28
On the Birthday Channel:
Happy 10th Birthday Hannah!!
In 1999, don't freak out but, at the turn of the century, Television saw several new series debut, such as - SpongeBob Square-pants, Futurama, West Wing, Who Wants to be a Millionaire and the incredibly wonderful, supercalafragalisticexpealadotious Hannah (but not from Montana )Show - starring the amazing Hannah B as herself.
During the first 9 seasons of this show we watched Hannah B. grow from a teeny-tiny newborn baby into a smart, talented, beautiful young girl.
In season 1 we watched her learn to crawl, then walk, then talk and by season 3 she was off and running. She was unstoppable!
Season 5 (see photo above) saw her graduate from Preschool and move-on up to Grade School where she learned read & write, to make best friends & be a best friend, to play football, baseball and soccer and to help her younger brother walk to school. Today, whether Hannah is wearing a football jersey or a frilly white dress she looks beautiful - crazy beautiful!
Over the years the cast has grown to include 2 brothers and a sister as well as many cousins & friends. We have watched the family move into a new house, go on some great vacations and throughout it all ... we have all loved watching Hannah grow-up!
Wishing you another great season Hannah!
Morning Coffee at 'Chez Jessie'
Mike, Katy & I spent this past weekend up in Canada and as always it was a busy but fun weekend. We stayed at Jessica's house in her 'Guest Suite' - very comfy. She has turned the Master Bedroom into the Family / Guest room and it works out so well. As a guest, you are treated to a private bedroom & bathroom, a large sitting area and of course, your own TV and Wii. Top Notch! Thanks again, Jessica & Aidan.
Every morning I had coffee out on the patio and although the weather was not as sunny & bright as it has been - it was still pretty warm.
There is just something about patio's, birds chirping and morning coffee that is an undeniably wonderful combination ...
Doug & Kathryn were also over for the weekend to visit Dad and they invited Dad, Katy, Mike & I to go out to lunch on Saturday with them & Kathryn's Mom & Dad. Dad treated everyone to a great lunch at Character's restaurant (Thanks Dad!) and we all had a very relaxing & lovely time visiting each other.
Kathryn's Dad, Al, has just recently bought himself a scooter and since Character's is just a 'scoot' away from both of them - they made plans to meet up there for lunch one day.
It was definitely the 'Weekend of Meals' because on Saturday night we all met up at Cathy & Wayne's place for some birthday pizza & catch-up! Happy Belated Birthday Wayne!
Sunday morning Mike treated (Thanks Mike!) Doug, Kathryn, Katy, Jessica, Dad & myself to breakfast at Ricky's,
After breakfast we all headed out to Cloverdale to take flowers to Mom's grave and visit her for awhile.
It was a cool but clear morning and while it was hard to visit her there - it was strangely comforting at the same time. I know that she is with me all the time but being so near to her brought me peace.
It makes my heart feel good to know that she is resting in such a beautiful spot - a spot that she picked out because it brought her home ... home to the farm, to the house & home that she loved so much.
It was nice.
Cheung's Corner Store - a Surrey Center Landmark!
On the way to the cemetery we passed by Cheung's Cornerstore!
Think Willy Wonka! Think Penny Candy! Mojo's, Bazooka Bubble Gum, Pixie Stix's!
Think 2 for a penny or 3 for a nickel! Think Sugar Rush! Think White Gold - refined sugar! That's what I think of when I think of Cheung's ...
While little else at the top of hill in Surrey Center has remained the same - there still sits Cheung's - the same little ratty-tatty store - nestled amid the bazillion new houses that have overtaken the wooded lots and empty fields of my childhood. But still, as soon as I saw it ...it felt like coming home.
It really is amazing how LITTLE it has changed in the last 25 -30 years! I have no idea if the Cheung family still owns it but I love the fact that the name is still the same.
I think it should be registered as a Historic Landmark. Let's start a petition before someone buys it and tears it down.
Since I was feeling all sentimental & nostalgic, I asked Mike to head down to the border crossing via 168th Street so I could catch a glimpse of my childhood, my heritage - our family farm.
And no, I don't live physically live there anymore - I haven't for a long, long time but it is still where my childhood lives.
Someone else may now live in that house and plow those fields but it will always be my Home Sweet Home.
While I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday or the last movie I went to ... I can still recall my life on that farm in vivid detail. I love this farm and as sat on the side of the road and looked into the sun-porch (or fish bowl as we often called it) I could literally see us all out there - having lunch together. Dirty fingernails, sun-burnt faces and all ...
That sun-room, over time, replaced the nook to became the 'heart' of our home, our 'war room', our gathering place - our family touchstone! Yep, we ate many a meal out there, shared many a laugh & probably even cried a few tears out there, but, much to my Mother's chagrin - we N.E.V.E.R EVER celebrated a family Christmas out there.
What can I say ... sometimes majority DOES rule (LOL) !!!
But, more than almost anything else - it is these two beautiful old historic trees that hold my childhood - cradling it gently within their branches.
I know that these trees hold the memories of those that lived here long before me as well as those that lived here with me, and even those who will come to live here years from now.
I love that I share this tree with so many - I cherish this thought because I know that that each year these trees live they will continue to grow a little bigger and a little stronger and their branches will reach out a little further - enabling them to hold even more memories.
I am part of these trees & they are a part of me.
Strong, silent & solid, planted deep within their old & tangled roots live all my childhood memories, secrets & dreams and through these roots - I am still a part of this land.
These roots are my farm - these trees are my family trees.
Seattle Public Art
(Since 1973, the City of Seattle has required that 1% of all City funded Capital Improvement dollars be set aside for Public Art - we have a lot of public art)
On Saturday Dana & I went into Seattle to check out an Arts & Craft Fair that Jessica had told me about. Dana met me at my house about 11am and we went & grabbed a quick bite to eat before hurrying over to the 520 bridge to get across the lake before it the Seafair backup started. During Seafair Weekend (and the week before) they close the I90 bridge down for part of the day when the Blue Angels are practicing or preforming - with only one bridge open the 520 backs up BIG TIME.
Blue Angels (I didn't take this photo: in fact I didn't see them at all this year but I did HEAR them)
I must say, as we crossed over the 520 bridge (we did beat the backups) Dana & I were amazed by the hundreds of boats we saw rushing full steam to get down to the south end of the lake to watch the Blue Angels and other Seafair activities. Dana tried to get a picture of them all racing across the lake but it was hard as we were driving about 65 mph.
Boats heading down to Seafair
It was such a nice day and there were so many people down at the Seattle Center. I don't get into the city much and I always forget how beautiful Seattle is. In the middle of the Seattle Center is a GREAT big fountain that many people use as a watering hole. There were tons of people down in the fountain trying to cool off ...
The Seattle Center Fountain
It was hot out but there was a cool breeze blowing and so it made the walk through the center very enjoyable. The Urban Craft Uprising, as it is called, took place in the Exhibition Hall.
The Urban Craft Uprising was more Arts than Crafts and I was amazed at how truly talented & creative some people are. Although neither Dana nor I bought much we did have a great day together.
I Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!
- N -
Sara Gruen: Water For Elephants - A Novel
I loved this book. Loved it! The story, the setting (a circus), the history and the characters. This story is so unique and it's a book that I am sure you will never regret reading...
Greg Mortenson: Three Cups of Tea
Hit the road - 02.16.10
Alexander M. Smith: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Hit the Road - 02.16.10
Cormac McCarthy: The Road
Hit the road - 01.26.10
Dan Brown: The Da Vinci Code
Hit the Road - 01.08.10
